Drake stepped away from Veridian Rise, leaving the small cluster of tutorial NPCs behind. The [Known Hand] title was a subtle affirmation, but the real treasure was the vast trove of conversations now perfectly indexed within his [Perfect Recall]. He was Level 6, his [Basic Slash] executing at a crisp 90% SCR thanks to the timed training session, and his shield-based [Defend] was reliable at 87%. While still far from the absolute perfection he aimed for, his combat effectiveness had vastly improved. It was time to leverage his other unique advantage: information.
"Alright, Level 6. Four more levels needed for the tutorial boss, mentioned by the village elder. Grinding mobs is one way, but exploring based on these NPC conversations might yield faster EXP or useful items. Let's test the theory. Closest potential lead was Guard Miller losing his whetstone near the 'split oak' north."
He set off along the northern path again, moving with the confidence his improved defense afforded him. His basic leather boots crunched softly on the dirt path. It wasn't long before he encountered hostiles – a pair of Level 5 Dire Wolves emerged from the trees, low growls rumbling in their chests.
One wolf lunged. Drake reacted instantly, activating [Defend]. His left arm, bearing the simple strapped wood of his basic shield, snapped up, meeting the lunge with the precisely timed 87% SCR block his talent now guaranteed. THUD! << Skill Success! SCR 87%! Damage Blocked: 48! >> << Damage Taken: 2! HP: 163/165 >> "Solid block. Minimal damage taken."
He immediately countered with [Basic Slash], his right arm bringing the [Well-Used Longsword] around in a clean arc, tracing the phantom line guide perfectly for his locked 90% SCR. << Skill Success! SCR 90%! Damage Dealt: 31! >> The wolf yelped, staggering back from the potent hit, significantly more impactful now at 110% of its base potential. The second wolf tried to circle, but Drake kept both in his front arc, using another well-timed [Defend] against its snap, then focusing his powerful slashes on the injured first wolf. Without the complex weaving of dual blades, the rhythm was simpler: block, slash, reposition, slash, block. His high SCR ensured each action was effective, ending the fight cleanly and quickly with minimal damage taken.
<< Defeated Dire Wolf! EXP +75 >> << Defeated Dire Wolf! EXP +75 >>
"Efficiency is way up with 90% Slash. Good."
He continued north, easily dispatching another wolf pair, until he spotted the landmark: the large, lightning-scarred 'split oak'. He approached, accessing [Perfect Recall] for Guard Miller's exact words: "...slipped on some damn roots right by the north side of the split oak, whetstone must've fallen out..." Drake methodically searched the ground near the roots on the north side, pushing aside foliage. Tucked against the bark, almost hidden, was the small grey stone.
<< Item Acquired: [Guard's Whetstone] (Common)! >>
<< Description: Grants +5% weapon damage for 10 minutes. >>
"Confirmed. Recall + dialogue works for finding lost items. Useful." He pocketed the minor buff item.
Next target: the southern woods for Elara's Redbay Leaves. He changed direction, heading south past Veridian Rise. The terrain became damper, the trees denser. He encountered Level 6 Thorn Spiders, their acid spit forcing timely use of his 87% [Defend], and Level 7 Mire Lurkers near streams, whose sudden lunges tested his reaction speed. His sword-and-board style felt sturdy; the shield provided reliable mitigation, allowing him to focus on landing powerful 90% SCR slashes during openings. The fights took concentration but were no longer desperate struggles.
He found the area Elara described, near a sluggish stream where distinctive red-leafed bushes grew in abundance. Recall: Elara stating they need iron-rich soil... He checked the ground – dark, damp earth, clearly different, with visible reddish mineral flecks. "Checks out." He harvested a number of the leaves.
<< Item Acquired: [Redbay Leaf] x8 >> << Description: A pungent herb... Requires Alchemy skill to process. >>
"Valuable reagent secured purely through NPC knowledge and observation. This method is definitely viable."
Finally, he headed towards the Standing Stones area, following Old Man Fitzwilliam's rambling directions recalled perfectly: past the rock formation that looked vaguely like a sleeping giant, then along the 'whispering stream'. He arrived at the clearing containing the circle of imposing grey monoliths. The place felt ancient and quiet.
Recall: Fitzwilliam's grandfather's tale... cave between tallest stones... singing crystal... full moon... Drake located the two tallest stones. He ran his hands over them, peered into the shadows between them, listened intently. No cave. No singing.
"As expected, no obvious entrance now. But..." He focused, walking slowly back and forth directly between the two massive stones. The ambient forest sounds seemed to dampen unnaturally here. He looked down, spotting the faint, non-natural scratch marks near the base of one stone again. "Definitely something strange about this spot. Acoustic dead zone, odd markings... Needs investigation later, maybe during a different time of day or... a full moon, if the old tale wasn't just senility. Logging this." [Perfect Recall] stored the sensory data, location, and associated clues.
He spent some time clearing the Level 6 and 7 mobs wandering near the Standing Stones, continuing to gain steady EXP thanks to his efficient combat performance. The consistent kills, combined with quest EXP turned in earlier and the discovery bonuses, finally culminated in the level-up chime.
Ding! LEVEL UP! You are now Level 7! << Base Attributes Increased! HP/MP/Stamina Increased! +2 Attribute Points Available! >>
Drake assigned the points, feeling the familiar subtle increase in his capabilities. Level 7. His strategy of combining focused SCR grinding with meticulous information gathering via [Perfect Recall] was proving highly effective. He had tangible rewards, potential leads on deeper secrets, and consistent level progression. He gave the Standing Stones one last thoughtful look before moving on, ready for the next step towards mastering this demanding world.